Immigration roundup: January 2024

Free Movement

Colin and Sonia have rounded up January 2024. We cover the government's claims to have cleared the 'legacy' asylum backlog and look at the three backlogs that have replaced it. We also discuss the latest in an increasingly long list of cases in which the Home Office has behaved poorly. We also cover everything else from gender based asylum claims, to new rules for business visitors and care homes both losing and keeping their sponsor licences, as well as an interesting case on detention and the Illegal Migration Act.

We conclude with an invite to former Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and (hopefully not also former!) Free Movement podcast listener David Neal to join us on a future episode.

Asylum (00:26)

Reduction in asylum backlog achieved mainly through withdrawals and questionnaires

The inadmissibility process and the three new asylum backlogs

High Court reminder in age assessment challenge of the importance of providing papers on time

Briefing: evidence and arguments in asylum claims based on gender-based violence

CJEU: Women who are victims of gender-based violence can qualify for refugee status

The Home Secretary’s unlawful secret policy to withhold leave to remain from victims of modern slavery

Concessions for applicants to the Hong Kong BN(O) route who are on immigration bail or have withdrawn their asylum claim

Points based system (11:48)

High Court quashes Home Office decision to revoke another care home’s sponsor licence

Care home operator loses ability to sponsor overseas workers after compliance failures

More flexibility for business visitors from today

Dates confirmed for changes to income thresholds for family and skilled worker visas

Tax residence in the UK: when do people become liable for income and capital gains tax?

Appendix Children: which routes does it apply to and what are the requirements?

Detention (18:18)

High Court grants bail to person detained under new Illegal Migration Act powers

High Court quashes Home Office policy of delaying release of vulnerable detainees to get a second medical opinion

Family immigration (23:00)

How to avoid the minimum income requirement for partners under Appendix FM

Webinar: Exceptional circumstances in family-based immigration applications

EU Settlement Scheme (25:38)

Changes to treatment of some late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme in new guidance

Updated (27:45)

Briefing: The duty to safeguard children in need and their families at section 17 of the Children Act 1989

What are the immigration rules for settled returning residents of the United Kingdom?